Premium residency holders in Saudi Arabia must obtain work permit: Requirements, rules explained

Saudi Arabia’s Qiwa labour platform has outlined a series of regulations covering work permits for Premium Residency holders, employee resignations, training contracts and visa-related services.Holders of Premium Residency must obtain a dedicated work permit through the Qiwa platform. The permit is issued for a fee of SR100.Qiwa said subscription fees for businesses vary depending on the size of the establishment and are calculated based on the total number of employees registered under the entity’s unified number.The platform also confirmed that employers can document training contracts for participants in the Tamheer programme through its digital services. However, these contracts are not counted towards Saudization targets and do not contribute to compliance requirements linked to employment contract documentation.Qiwa said service fees can be paid using bank cards, SADAD payment numbers or through the platform’s digital wallet.The platform also clarified rules governing employee resignations. Workers may withdraw a resignation request within seven days, provided the employer has neither accepted the resignation nor postponed a decision during that period.Notice periods, meanwhile, are determined by the terms agreed in individual employment contracts and may differ between employees.On visa-related services, Qiwa stated that information contained in a visa cannot be amended once it has been issued. If incorrect details are entered during the application process, the visa must be cancelled and a new one issued with the correct information.The clarifications form part of Qiwa’s efforts to guide employers and employees on labour-related procedures available through the digital platform.